Beginner Fisherman Here

[cptn2469]

Hello everybody, so I'm not really new to fishing but it's been a very long time since I've been bass fishing. Probably like 5-6 years. I was going deep sea fishing for a long time and the fishing is so different that bass fishing that I feel I have lost touch with how to catch them haha.

So I have a few questions and hopefully you guys can give me some pointers so I can start catching some bass again.

I'm here in socal, I fish diamond valley quite often (it's my main lake) I have 1 rod/ reel. It's a 7' medium fast action with a Daiwa laguna reel. Is this a good rod reel for fishing a little bit of everything? I have read different actions are meant for different types of bait and what not.

What times of month are best for bass fishing? I'm confused on what exactly pre spawn, post spawn fishing is better, (maybe there's a book you guys recommend describing bass tendancy?)

Lures, my tackle box I feel is pretty diverse, from frogs, to deep diving cranks, spinners, worms, crawdads.. etc. In all types of colors and all that. Are there any books, videos or anything on how to make the action look better? I'm mainly a worm person I get most of my hits off of that and I feel it's because I know how to do that action (so I think) thanks for all the help. I'm real excited about getting back out there and catching some big fish.

Last little tid bit. What do you recommend as a first boat? I'd prefer fiberglass. An 18' is fine. I definitely don't need a 22' nor do I need 250hp I'm okay with like an 18' with like a 115-150. Thanks again guys.

[Senko lover]

Well, my friend, you're in luck. This is the #1 place you could be! 

[gobig]

Read the big bass zone and in pursuit of giant bass. As far as smaller glass boats I would go with a Champion or a Ranger.

[cptn2469]

Okay thanks for the boat suggestions I'll look those two up. As well as those books. Thanks!

[cptn2469]

Haha the pursuit of big bass is almost as old as I am! Haha

[HoosierHawgs]

Lot's of good info here. Really the best thing you can do is go out and fish... Do you have a friend who is really into bass fishing or know someone with a boat? If so, going on a trip with them can be a great learning experience. I learned from my dad, and having a mentor is something that is very helpful in this sport.

[cptn2469]

Thanks and my dad used to fish bass he switched to deep sea fishing and doesn't really like to go bass fishing. As for knowing someone that fishes or has a boat is a negative. Yeah fishing always helps but like I said last 3 times out I have been skunked so I was hoping for a little advice before I went back out again. Haha.

[Matthew2000]

Stratos and Bass Cat would be my choice for a boat. The layout of their smaller models is really nice with some cool features.

[Long Mike]

There is an encyclopedia of information available to you in in our Fishing Articles section.  Please take advantage of it.  You will not be disappointed.

[geo g]

Welcome to the site.  There is a ton of information if you just explore the site.  Since this is a national site and not local.  It would really help us responding to you inquiry if you would fill out the personal profile, and at least let us know what state you live in, and what waters you fish.   Good luck, and endless hours of enjoyment!

[bigbill]

There is so much reading and education about bass fishing here you will get a PHD in bass fishing when your done reading it all. Get started I will take up your time.

We can preach till dawn and nothing beats the time on the spent fishing. I been here since the very beginning of this forum. Guess what were all still learning. It's skill that catches bass.

[cptn2469]

Sorry guys havnt filled out the bio yet I'm on my phone (havnt been on a computer yet) and the site is kind of hard to navigate on the mobile version. I'm from California. Mainly fishing diamond valley. I agree there's no better thing than to go and fish. But the bite has been pretty bad here from the reports I have read, so I havnt gone out. Waiting another couple weeks and hopefully the bite to pick up. So figured I'd do some research and what not. I will definitely start reading the other sections.

[gobig]

By the time the reports show good you have missed the window in many instances.

[Crestliner2008]

Welcome aboard! You are, as has been stated, on the correct forum for the most definitive knowledge base available on the net. Do not forget however, that a lot of folks here are not necessarily from your area. So, when you ask questions, it will get you more value-added feedback if we know some things, such as:

 

1) What KIND of lake you are fishing - Hill-land, High-land, canyon, or shallow. Reservoir, river, or natural lake. Depth and water temperature close to the time you intend to be fishing. Weedy, woody or sparse cover.

 

2) What is the predominant forage base - crawfish, gobies, smelt, herring, bluegill, etc..

 

3) What presentations have you used and are comfortable with.

 

Basically, the more information we have, the more pertinent information you will get in responses to your questions. What really doesn't help much is a question such as, "I'm going fishing tomorrow, what should I use?"

 

You asked about fish behavior and patterns. Some good suggestions have been given with regards to books and articles here already. That'll get you started quite well. And remember this, age of information is not necessarily a bad thing. Knowledge is knowledge and doesn't deteriorate with time. Some the best reads are books out of the 60's through the early 70's when more scientific research catapulted our sport by leaps and bounds. Google the book entitled, "Spoonplugging" by Elwood "Buck" Perry. A quality read that will enlighten you as just what "structure" is and the basic behavioral patterns of bass and most other species of game fishes.

 

Once again....WELCOME ABOARD!

[cptn2469]

Thanks for three great reply! I wish I had more answers for you but I truly don't know most of those questions. Most lakes I fish are reservoirs. As for the forage idk. And as for presentations I use worms the most, but to be honest I'm gonna say none of my presentations are done right haha. I have been watching videos online on how to work different bait, and that seems to have caused me to believe I was definitely doing it wrong.. so I'm going to try those out and go for that, I LOVE fishing with frogs, I love the top water hits. Especially on frogs, I also like fishing jigs, so I would say I'm more of a fines fisher. I have crank baits but I prefer other baits before I go to those. I'm actually planning on calling off tomorrow and going fishing. Just a little shoreline fishing at lake perris here in southern California.

[DocNsanE]

This post has some interesting info on patterns presented in an interesting way.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/144620-cosmic-clock/?hl=calendar

[cptn2469]

That is a lot of info in the post! Very confusing but made a little bit of sense and helped me understand that bass do not get active by a certain month,but by water temp which I was confused on. And makes more sense than what I was thinking. That helps a lot and will help determine when I fish because of the day, temp, and now water temp. We have had a few days of rain down here last week, and it was a hot rain, that will help raise water temps so that should make the bass more active. I got tomorrow off so I'll be going fishing Tuesday morning tomorrow will be spent getting the gear ready to go. And getting new line put on the. Do you guys recommend mono, fluorocarbon, or braided? I have 10lb mono on it now, I also have 50lb braided I can string up, and I have 10/12lb fluorocarbon. I was going to eventually have a pole with each one since I know they each have there own reasons to use them. But if you have only 1 pole, what would you recommend? 10lb is what I'll be using. Because my reel only holds I think 100yds of 12lb. And like 120 of 10lb. Although I'm sure 100yds of 12lb would work just fine. Thanks again for all the posts. It's helping alot especially reading that last one lots of good info. Thanks.

[Thundercleez]

Hey man I might be able to help a bit. Diamond valley has a load of shad. That's your forage. Use spinnerbaits and cranks that replicate shad. Soft plastics work too. Senkos, flukes, craws. Big swim baits work too. Right now the reports are bad because the bass down here in SoCal are, for the most part, mid spawn. If you can find the beds you can catch the fish. There are tons of videos and articles on fishing the spawn on here. I like to use a biospawn vile craw or other compact soft plastics on a split shot rig or Texas rig to fan cast in likely spawning areas, worked super slow.

[Thundercleez]

Also. The striper fishing down there in those reservoirs is amazing! Get some.

[cptn2469]

Awesome thanks! I'm thinking of trying out lake perris I've hear of some decent bites going on last week. So figure I'll try it out. Just shoreline fishing so we will see what happens. I figured I would start with a Texas rig, if that failed I was gonna try a senior wakky style, and then some jigs. All on a slow retrieve. I'll keep the shad in mind for diamond valley, next time I'm there I'll focus in on that color, and type of bait. Thanks!

[DocNsanE]

If you only have one rod, I would personally go with braid mainline with a fluorocarbon leader

[hatrix]

I am not sure how you determined you were working your worms wrong. I guess if you were just straight reeling them back to you. But even then that still catches fish. It might seem like it's wrong when you watch a guy fishing bottom baits that has done it forever and you look at your self. It is more just a case of form and technique and over time you will be the same from muscle memory. If you have ever watch someone who never fished work a t-rig they look terrible doing it. It looks very awkward and and random with no fluid movement. You can instantly tell if someone has put some time in on the water jist by how they hold and work the rod. It just looks fluid and natural.

[cptn2469]

Hey there hatrix I came to the conclusion I was using worms wrong for a few reasons. I need to be more patient in the retrieve with the worms, I was not letting them fall to the bottom and bounce them, I'm sure they will catch fish if I just throw it out there and reel it in but that's obviously not how you use these baits, and that's pretty much what I was doing. Reeling and twitching from time to time, I try not to pay attention to what others are doing or catching because it distracts from what I'm trying to do. So I don't really see how others are fishing while I'm fishing. I guess I don't know forsure I was wrong but I feel like I could have been using them better. And probably would have caught fish had I been. Lol

[cptn2469]

All packed up and ready to go. Picked up a cheap little spinning rod/reel today. The bass pro shop viper spinner combo. I needed something that I could put 4-6lb line on for my light lures like my 1/8th ounce jigs. It's a 6'6 medium action rod. It actually feels like a pretty solid reel for being 29.99... lol.

Well I tried to post a picture of my gear but it won't let me.

[hatrix]

All packed up and ready to go. Picked up a cheap little spinning rod/reel today. The bass pro shop viper spinner combo. I needed something that I could put 4-6lb line on for my light lures like my 1/8th ounce jigs. It's a 6'6 medium action rod. It actually feels like a pretty solid reel for being 29.99... lol.

Well I tried to post a picture of my gear but it won't let me.

 

 

Ya its kind of a issue with this site if you picture is over a certain size. I dont know how big but its small. You have to ling to something like photobucket.